I was going to join kendo but I have exams coming up.Sword fetish? nah, I appreciate the Art that is a sword. A tool to kill? Yes they are, but words have done more controversy than swords.Death is not glamorous, Killing is not glamorous. But the motion of blades, The curious design, the Chess game that went through the warriors mind when choosing over every kerf and ridge, the weaknesses and strengths, the beautiful dance of equillibrium, conflict, and skill that lasts both seconds and centuries. This is the song that draws me to swords.The sword is the symbol of mankind's poetic approach to violence, and regardless of words written, such bloody poetry can still be beautiful. Like owning a fancy Car (a concept which I am still not entirely sure of, (they are not shinier, more efficient, nor more comfortable, all they are is more expensive? does that not denote stupidity?) Admiring a sword is simply a prefered genre of art. Like Fine wines, or boats, like games or teacups. They are something that pique the interest of anyone who sees their true beauty.

If that answer doesn't suit you, i'll just say they are shiny, and be done.And yes, I still prefer humans.

Unfortunately, I don’t remember some of my instructors' names from pre-1998. I don’t know what the heck “Okinawan Gung Fu” was but that’s what my then instructor said he was teaching. After many years in the arts and research, the Crane techniques he taught me and I still remember were indeed “authentic” Crane techniques. Both my Okinawan and Kenpo instructor were Brown belts and classes were held at a Rec Center in El Paso Texas’ west side near Jackie Robinson Projects. Note they were two different instructors with no direct affiliation.

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I had written this long dialogue about my training between 1998 and 2001 and ‘justified’ some things about previous instructors and classes. I realized after I read it a few times that I don’t need to do that. I can’t do anything about what happened and where I trained in the past. I can take care of today so that tomorrow’s knowledge and techniques will be good. Currently I am training hard to maintain a high level of proficiency and I have a great set of teachers and wonderful students.

Because of that dedication, I was invited to train with the “old sensei on the mountain” (as he calls himself) in the “heiden” (sp?) curriculum of our “house method”.

I don’t have some fancy Japanese/Okinawan paperwork and nor can I list a long lineage of Asian masters. I realize that I don’t have to do that. I believe in what we do in Oshirokan Goshin Budo Bujutsu and I know that, after checking and through personal research, the kata I am taught are authentic and techniques WORK.

Here I am saying I have no great lineage and I find out differently.... As I was reading the thread (http://www.fightingarts.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=15980994&Main=15980269#Post15980994) this morning regarding catching arrows and what not, I saw a video link of Ronald Duncan. My instructor, Master Chase, trained with Professor Duncan in the early 80's. In fact, Chase was promoted to 4th Dan by Professor Duncan on 07/02/1983 (I have Master Chase's resume here, but I do not have permission to copy it in it's entirely). I have heard of Professor Duncan but never truly realized his place in the Martial arts world. Regardless of what you may think of that "arrow catching" video Professor Duncan is still a well respected Martial Artist.

1988-1989 - Tang Soo Do -- I was 6 and this was closer to Rex Kwan Do than anything respectable. Then again I grew up in the sticks and the Sensei did a traveling type of teaching where he went to a different town in the area a different night each day. I progressed to Green Belt but never really gave it the time and effort to take it seriously.

2007-Present - Presently I'm a residential member at the Shim Gwang Sa Mind Light Temple of Shim Gum Do located in Brighton, MA. I have been training in Zen Sword under Zen Master Chang Sik Kim for several months and also practicing and learning Zen under his tutelage. It's an amazing sword art for anyone who hasn't heard of it.

I am currently at the Green Belt level and am about a year and a few months from my Black Belt test. The curve seems to be a bit fast with Shim Gum Do but since there are 33 levels of Black Belt I guess it makes sense.

I'm very interested in weapons and Aikido/Self Defense and plan on taking Aikido when I move away from Boston and want a local art to train on top of my home Shim Gum Do training.

I'm very interested in both the physical and spiritual aspects of the Martial Arts and commuting them to those in the world around us. Every morning at the temple we're up at 5:45 to recite the Homage to the Three Jewels and the Heart Sutra which generally put me in a very positive energy for the day.

I also go to grad school but in my opinion that's far less interesting than my training. Hope to be active and around for a while to come.

Hey guys I'm new to the forums! I train in Kendo- I lived in Japan for a year as an exchange student and practiced everyday for my club activity. As of next week I will be taking Shorin-Ryu Shorin-Kan Karate lessons as well. I come from Sydney, Australia. I am also interested in Kobudo- bo fighting etc. has always been an interest of mine since I was younger. I can't wait to meet you all and learn from your expertise, experience and opinions- Emerson said "every man is my superior in some respect" I totally agree, especially in the realm of martial arts